Improvement in feather-renovators



- UNIT- D STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI W. POWLS, OF VALPARAISO, IND., ASSIGNOR ()F ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO LORENZO W. OHILDS AND ROBERT MONAY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEATHER-RENOVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,151, dated August 18, 1874; application filed June 15, 1874. Y t

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, LEVI W. PoWLs, of Valparaiso, in the county of Porter and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Feather-Renovators, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of the present invention consists in rotating steam-agitators, which are arranged inside of asuitable case or featherreceiver, and operated by means of a rotary steam-cylinder, which is placed inside of the case, and is so arranged, with reference to the rotating agitators, by means of a steamchamber, that the exhaust-steam from the cylinderwill pass into the agitators, and from ports in the latter communicate with the feathers in the case.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improvement in feather-renovators; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation on line :0, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an end view, with the end L removed to show the steamcylinder inside.

A represents the outer case or featherreceiver, which is constructed in the ordinary form-that is, with a steamchamber between its two annular plates A a. An agitator, consisting of the two or more steam-pipes B B, fastened to circular heads V V, is hung to the ends of the case A by means of a hollow journal, E, so as to rotate freely, said pipes being provided with a series of holes, 10 p p, 860., that steam may readily enter the chamber inside of the case A a. The means for conducting steam to the agitators B and putting them in motion is a motor-cylinder, G, which consists of annular heads, H 0, fitting the plate a as nearly steam-tight as convenient, and of an annular rim, t, secured together in any convenient manner. This cylinder is fixed to the journal F and rotates with it, and it is provided with two or more steam-chambers formed by partition-plates g, which connect with the annular plate t and with the heads H O. The function of these chambers is to receive steam from ports 1" by means of steam-pipe J, for the purpose of rotating the agitators B and supplying them with steam. The journals E F, heads a o,

and agitators B are relatively rigid fixtures and rotate together, and the journals E F have bearings in the annular end plates 0 b, the latter plate forming a division between the head 12 and cylinderhead H, Fig. 1. The case A rests on two chairs, 0, and is held in place by hooks and eyes N N, Figs. 1 and 2.

'The cylinder G is smaller than the outside case A a, and to conduct steam to it is a steam-chest, Fig. 3, consisting of a springplate, I, which is fastened to said case A a, and its ends arranged to bear on the periphery of the cylinder, so that little or no steam will escape. The plate I also answers the purpose of a cut-off for the ports r-that is, one port at a time receives steam as it is brought against the stealnchest.

The operation is as follows: Steam is introduced to the chambers of the motor G by means of a pipe, J, and ports 1', dotted lines, Fig. 3, to rotate the cylinder G and agitators B by reaction against the ends and sides of said chamber. The particular construction of the chambers is not, however, material, and any other well-known and simple form of rotary engine may be employed. From said chambers the steam exhausts, through port S in cut-01f plate 1), into that steam-pipe B which is opposite the particular chamber then taking steam.

The feathers are placed in the case by means of a lid or door, I), and they are steamed from ports 29 when being agitated, after which steam is shut ofi' from pipe J andintroduced to the hollow case A a, at K, to dry the feathers, the journal F being rotated by hand that the agitators B may keep the feathers separated during the drying process.

The ofi'ensive slop and gas from the feath ers pass off through the pipes E N.

Inasmuch as steam enters only one of the agitators B at a time it is discharged at op posite points in the case, and forces the feathers from side to side thereof, preventing them from packing in a mass.

To remove the feathers from the case, the lid D is lifted oif, the case turned one-fourth round, and the agitators put in motion by the journal F. This will discharge the feathers.

I claim and desire to, secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The case A of a feather-renovator, and

, the hollow agitators B revolving therein,

combined with the cut-off plate I), with its port S, and the steam-motor G, whereby steam is admitted to said agitators one at a time, as set forth.

, .2. In combination with the case A a and hollow agitator B, as set forth, the revolving motor-wheel G, as described.

LEVI W. POWLS.

Witnesses:

GEo. G. BELLows, G. L, OHAPIN. 

